MLB History: Tragic Deaths That Shocked the Game
By David Hill
Marty Bergen was a decent enough hitter (at least compared to his historically awful brother, Bill Bergen) but was a gifted defensive catcher. He was also completely insane, and his mental health issues played a large part in his shocking murder/suicide.
Considered to be the best defensive catcher in the history of the game by Hall of Famer Jesse Burkett, Bergen began to suffer mental problems after his infant son died. He began to alienate himself from his teammates, inexplicably slapping Vic Willis during breakfast one day, and he was given a wide berth by his teammates. After his son died, he would leave the team periodically to head home, then just reappear without saying a word to anyone. Of course, Bergen also thought his teammates were making fun of him due to his son’s death, further straining relations.
As time went on, his condition worsened. He was pulled from one game in October 9, 1899, because he was dodging knife thrusts from an invisible assassin instead of catching pitches. Bergen was prescribed medication to treat his illness, but refused to take it because he thought that spies were trying to poison him. He did recognize his issues, and sought help from doctors and the church, but would not follow prescribed treatments.
His mental issues came to a head on January 19, 1900. He snapped, and killed his wife and two children with an axe, crushing their skulls with his blows. After their murder, Bergen then killed himself, slitting his throat with a straight razor with enough force where he almost decapitated himself.
A memorial to Marty Bergen, donated, in part, by Connie Mack, stands at his gravesite in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in North Brookfield, Massachusetts, honoring him for his contributions to the MLB. His death, and the circumstances surrounding it, may have been the most shocking in baseball history.